Last day drama sees Iron in play-offs with Leeds v Lions! Cobblers, Railwaymen relegated

So that's all police leave cancelled in South London and West Yorkshire as we have the old bill's favourite play-off tie of Leeds v Millwall! Oh joy!

Crewe Alexandra 0 Leicester City 3

League One champions Leicester put the final nail in Crewe's coffin and condemned The Railwaymen to relegation with a comfortable win at Gresty Road.

The hosts managed to hold firm until the half-time interval but ten minutes after the break Switzerland full-back Bruno Berner fired The Foxes ahead.

Ten minutes later Lloyd Dyer put the visitors two ahead at the second bite of the cherry, smashing the ball into the top corner after his initial shot was blocked.

And Matty Fryatt compounded Crewe's misery on 68 minutes as Dyer turned provider to tee the ex-Walsall man up for his 32nd goal of the season.

Peterborough United 2 Swindon Town 2

Dean Keates' stunning injury-time free-kick ensured Peterborough finish the season with just one defeat in their final 12 games.

Cox gave the visitors a surprise early lead at London Road, powering his shot past Posh stopper Joe Lewis from the edge of the area.

Peterborough top scorer Craig Mackail-Smith brought his Championship-bound side level five minutes before half-time when he pounced on the loose ball from close range.

Cox put The Robins back ahead with his 32nd strike of the season, rifling his shot into the top right-hand corner just before the break but Keates had other ideas late on.

Hereford United 0 MK Dons 1

Luke Howell's late strike ensured MK Dons will head into the promotion play-offs in confident mood as Roberto Di Matteo's men overcame relegated Hereford.

Both sides knew already knew their futures prior to kick-off, with Hereford condemned to League Two next season, and MK Dons unable to catch Peterborough in second.

That showed in a drab first half where Jennison Myrie-Williams' excellent drive for The Bulls was the shining light of an otherwise dull match.

With the clock ticking down in the second half, a goalless draw looked inevitable until ex-Chelsea forward Tore Andre Flo teed up Howell, who smashed in the winner.

Leeds United 3 Northampton Town 0

Leeds' strike-force Jermaine Beckford and Luciano Becchio proved too hot to handle for Northampton, who suffered the agony of relegation.

Argentinean forward Becchio climbed highest to meet Ben Parker's cross to nod home and break the deadlock at Elland Road just before the half-time interval.

Jermaine Beckford doubled his side's advantage on 58 minutes, drilling the past Cobblers keeper Chris Dunn for his 34th goal of the campaign.

And substitute Robert Snodgrass added a third in injury time, when he volleyed home Andy Robinson's low cross.

Carlisle United 2 Millwall 0

Paul Thirlwell's stunning second-half strike ensured Carlisle's great escape was secured with a hard-fought victory over Millwall.

Graham Kavanagh gave The Blues an early lead on seven minutes, as the former Republic of Ireland international pounced on the loose ball after Scott Dobie's shot was blocked.

And the hosts were two up and cruising on 50 minutes when former Sunderland midfielder Thirlwell unleashed an unstoppable thunderbolt into the top right-hand corner.

Millwall, who's place in the play-offs was already confirmed prior to kick-off, rarely threatened as Carlisle held on for the points, which was enough for The Blues to maintain their League One status.

Scunthorpe United 1 Tranmere Rovers 1

Cliff Byrne's dramatic last-gasp strike rescued a point for Scunthorpe and booked his side's place in the play-offs at the expense of opponents Tranmere.

Craig Curran notched his first goal since August with the simplest of headers after a superb spin and cross from Ian Moore to give Rovers a first-half lead.

That goal meant that if the visitors could cling on for the points, they would leapfrog The Iron into sixth place and snatch the last play-off place.

Tranmere keeper Danny Coyne made a superb save to deny Grant McCann on 70 minutes, but the visitors went down to ten men on 87 minutes when Gareth Edds saw red as Tranmere crumbled and Byrne headed Scunthorpe into the play-offs.

Southend United 2 Cheltenham Town 0

Frenchman Jean Francois Christophe rounded off a vintage display with a superb strike in the dying minutes as Southend eased to victory.

Adam Barrett gave The Shrimpers the lead on 54 minutes, when he powered a header past the hapless Will Puddy in the Cheltenham goal.

And Christophe turned and hit a sweetly struck effort on 89 minutes to make sure of the points and finally kill off The Robins' resistance.

For a full report with player markings go here:
www.thelittlegazette.com/news/loadnews.asp?cid=TMNW&id=446022

Leyton Orient 1 Huddersfield Town 1

Andy Booth's 150th goal for Huddersfield in his final appearance for The Terriers was not enough to earn victory against a stubborn Leyton Orient side.

The 35-year-old fired home his fifth goal in four games from close range mid-way through the first half after excellent work from Tom Clarke.

But Dean Morgan restored parity at Brisbane Road just after the hour mark when he turned home Jimmy Smith's low cross.

Walsall 1 Oldham Athletic 2

Departing Oldham boss Joe Royle finally captured his first win back at the Boundary Park helm, courtesy of Ryan Brooke's excellent strike against Walsall.

Royle, who will now hand over the reins to Dave Penney, had not seen his side win in 12 attempts and it did not look good for The Latics when Troy Deeney gave the hosts a second-minute lead.

The visitors bounced back however, and found themselves level just before half-time when Deane Smalley clipped home his fifth goal of the season after Kevin Maher's cross.

And Brooke completed the turnaround on 74 minutes with an thumping low strike from the edge of the area to make it lucky 13 for Royle.

Bristol Rovers 4 Hartlepool United 1

Rickie Lambert's 50th goal for Bristol Rovers inspired his side to a thumping win at The Memorial Stadium as Hartlepool avoided relegation by the skin of their teeth.

The hosts got off to the perfect start and found themselves two goals to the good after just five minutes, courtesy of strikes from ex-Arsenal youngster Jo Kuffour and Darryl Duffy.

Kuffour, a constant menace throughout, put The Pirates ahead in three minutes, firing home Chris Lines' cross, and Duffy slotted his 13th goal of the season just two minutes later.

Former Manchester United trainee Daniel Nardiello grabbed a goal back for Hartlepool on 27 minutes but Lambert bagged his 29th of the season just after the break before Aaron Lescott made it four.

Yeovil Town 0 Colchester United 2

A pair of blunders from Yeovil keeper Chris Weale handed the points to Colchester in this mild-mannered affair at Huish Park.

The Glovers stopper fluffed his lines as he tried to keep out Ashley Vincent's 18-yard daisy-cutter on 13 minutes to no avail.

And just two minutes later Weale was at fault again when former Tottenham winger Mark Yeates' 20-yard effort skidded off the turf and past the hapless keeper.

Kieran Murtagh struck a post for the home side with a powerful drive in the second half but it was all too easy for The U's, who ran out comfortable winners.

Brighton & Hove Albion 1 Stockport County 0

Nicky Forster's solitary strike was enough to secure all three points over Stockport and ensure Brighton will be in League One next year.

The Seagulls began brightly with former Brentford forward Lloyd Owusu guilty of spurning an excellent chance in the first half.

The home side were throwing everything at the Stockport goal, but found Hatters keeper Conrad Logan in superb form.

Logan pulled off an excellent stop to deny Gary Dicker on 72 minutes but Forster reacted quickest to save Brighton's skin.

Play-Off Fixtures

Friday, 08 May 2009:
Scunthorpe v MK Dons, Play-Offs Semi-Final, L1, 19:30.

Saturday, 09 May 2009:
Millwall v Leeds, Play-Offs Semi-Final, L1, 12:45.

Thursday, 14 May 2009:
Leeds v Millwall, Play-Offs Semi-Final, L2, 19:45.

Friday, 15 May 2009:
MK Dons v Scunthorpe, Play-Offs Semi-Final, L2, 19:45.

League One Play-Off Final (at Wembley):
Saturday 24 May 2009, 13.00.

Coca-Cola Football League One